Sweet Rogue of Mine (The Survivors #9) - Shana Galen Page 0,32

the same time as she did today. Does that suit, Miss Howard?”

“Yes! I could come earlier, if you would rather.”

“No.” Nash and Rowden said it at the same time. There was no point in having her here when the workmen were about, making him jumpy and nervous.

“I see. I will just wait in the library then.”

Nash heard her footsteps retreat. He turned and saw the shape of Rowden still in the doorway. “You’re sure about this?” Rowden asked.

“Pay her whatever she asks.”

“I’ll pay her what’s fair. Don’t expect me to play chaperone.”

“I don’t need a chaperone.”

Rowden made a dismissive sound. “Just remember she is under the vicar’s care. If you cause trouble, the whole village will be at your door. I’m trying to keep you out of the asylum, not hasten your departure.”

“There’s no need for the warning.”

“There’s every need,” Rowden said. “But I doubt you will heed it.”

Seven

“It’s a very bad idea,” Mrs. Northgate said as she pinned the fabric of Pru’s dress at the waist. “Hold still.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Holding still was difficult today. Pru was impatient to be done with her sewing and off to Wentmore. Of course, Mr. Payne had told her not to come until afternoon, when the workers were done, so she really need not be in a hurry. She had two hours at least before she would be expected at the great house.

“I never thought Higginbotham had any sense,” Mrs. Northgate was saying. “I am not pleased to have been correct.” She gave Pru a narrow look, all the pricklier for the pins sticking out of her mouth. “You told the vicar you would be at Wentmore?”

“Yes.”

“With that madman?”

“He is not a madman, but yes, I told Mr. Higginbotham I would be tutoring Mr. Pope.”

Mrs. Northgate stepped back. “You mentioned you would be there alone?”

“I won’t be alone,” Pru said. “Mr. Payne is there”—Mrs. Northgate waved her arms dismissively at the mention of Mr. Pope’s friend—“as is Mrs. Brown, the housekeeper. In fact, I met her yesterday and she was very kind.”

“Oh, Mrs. Brown is a saint, to be sure. Step down and take it off.”

Pru moved behind a privacy screen and struggled out of the dress.

“Be careful!” Mrs. Northgate warned. Pru rolled her eyes. She was being careful. If not, she would have been out of the infernal dress already. When Pru emerged, back in her ugly pea-green dress, Mrs. Northgate dramatically raised a hand to her eyes. “I beg you not to wear that...thing in my presence again.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Pru sat again, glancing surreptitiously at the clock on the mantel. She wondered if the hands were stuck. They had not moved.

“Mrs. Brown will not help you if that madman decides to shoot you. She could not do anything but bandage the Scot after he’d been injured.” Mrs. Northgate laid the dress on the table, adjusting it and eyeing the pins critically. “And there were two ladies with him as well. They were fortunate Pope did not shoot them.”

Pru cocked her head. This was the first she had heard of any ladies at Wentmore. “Who were the ladies? Were they also Scottish?”

“I couldn’t say, but one came into the village and she had a monstrous dog with her, and he terrorized the farmers for weeks.”

“The ladies visited at Wentmore for weeks?”

“Of course not! They left as soon as they saw the state of the great house. Poor Lord Beaufort.”

“But you said the dog—”

“The point is, Miss Howard, that Wentmore is not safe for a young lady such as yourself.”

“It cannot be any more dangerous than Constantinople or Rome.” She would not mention Cairo as that had not ended well.

“Your parents should have never taken you to such places.”

“They were doing the Lord’s work,” Pru said. She sounded so much like her mother in that moment that she almost winced. “And that’s what Mr. Higginbotham said. I will be doing the Lord’s work at Wentmore.”

Mrs. Northgate blew out a breath. “Do not say I did not warn you.” She peered at Pru. “I can see asking you to do any more sewing today is futile. Your mind is elsewhere.”

“I was thinking about the peacocks,” Pru said, relieved Mrs. Northgate would not ask her to pick up the needle and thread. Though she enjoyed Mrs. Northgate’s company, Pru did not enjoy sewing. She should be in a hurry to finish her dress so she could wear it. Even though it was not done, Pru could tell it would be the most beautiful dress she had ever